1 korun 1945

Scarce. This note is from a short-lived, specific-purpose issuing authority (a labor camp) with limited production runs intended solely for internal use within Jáchymovské Doly. Prison camp currency typically had smaller print runs than regular government issues, and surviving examples in uncirculated condition are less common than circulated specimens or notes from larger, longer-operating institutions. The Pick-unlisted status confirms it has not been cataloged in standard references, further supporting a scarce designation rather than common.

This note was issued by Jáchymovské Doly (Jáchymov Mines), a labor camp and uranium mining facility operating under Czechoslovak control in 1945, during the final stages of World War II and its immediate aftermath. The inscriptions 'Národní Podnik' (National Enterprise) and references to Horní Slavkov indicate state control of the mining operation. Prison camp currency served as internal exchange medium for labor and rations, making this note a tangible record of forced labor conditions and the post-war reorganization of Czechoslovak heavy industry.

The obverse displays a minimalist, functional design appropriate to emergency currency. A large numeral '1' in black occupies the center within a rectangular frame, emphasizing the denomination clearly for an audience that may include non-Czech speakers or poorly educated laborers. The background employs a repeating geometric lattice or diamond pattern rendered in white against a golden-yellow field, serving both decorative and security purposes by making counterfeiting more difficult. Four circular corner ornaments, each containing a small numeral '1', reinforce the denomination and provide balanced visual framing. The reverse is entirely blank, typical of camp scrip where security and aesthetics were secondary to functionality. No portraits or landmarks are depicted; the design is purely abstract and utilitarian.

Front side: 'JÁCHYMOVSKÉ DOLY' (Jáchymov Mines), 'NÁRODNÍ PODNIK' (National Enterprise), 'HORNÍ SLAVKOV' (Upper Slavkov). Back side: No inscriptions present.

Based on the clear geometric patterns, uniform coloring, and crisp registration of the numeral and text, this note was likely produced by letterpress or offset lithography. The precision of the lattice background pattern and corner ornaments suggests lithographic printing, which was cost-effective for short production runs of camp currency. No security printer attribution is known for this Pick-unlisted camp issue.

This is a Pick-unlisted issue, indicating it does not appear in the standard Pick Universal Currency Catalog. No known varieties (signatures, date variations, or serial number prefixes) can be confirmed from the visual analysis provided. The note should be cataloged as a single-variety camp issue from 1945. Further research into Jáchymovské Doly archives may reveal details of multiple printings or authorized denominations within the camp system.